Annular steam rotary motor



L. ADAMS. ANNULAR STEAM ROTARY MOTOR. APPLICATION FILED OCR 28, 1918.

Patented July 6,, 192A).

4 SHEETS-SHEET l.

WITNESSES:

L. ADAMS. ANNULAR STEAM ROTARY MOTOR. APPLICATJON FILED OCT. 28, 1918.

9 w Pmmnted July fi 1mm.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

L. ADAMS.

ANNULAR STEAM ROTARY MOTOR. APPLICATiON man OCT. 28. 1918.

Patented July A, 192%..

4 SHEETSSHEET 3- WITNESSES: l/Vl/E/I/TOR M Q/M w L. ADAMSa ANNULAR STEAM ROTARY MOTOR. APPLICATION FILED 0CT.28,1918.

]Pammed July fi 1mm. 4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

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All i ii,

tiltlll l'lllllllieilll specification of Letters llatent.

lt atenterl duly ll, lltlfllh Application filed t'letoher fltl, i913. Eierial No. 260,031.

To all whom it may concern." Be it known that l, linoiwaun hearts, a citizen of the United lltates of America, residing at res llllonroe lit, in the city ot Buffalo, county of lllrie, and the Sltate oi? l levv Yorlr, have invented a new and usetul Annular tlteam llotary lrlotor, of which the following is a specification and description. invention relates to improvements in annular steam rotary motors in which rotors are revolved by steam pressure which is con trolled. hy rocker or oscillatory valves. 'lhese drawings, specifications and descriptions as set torth, illustrate and describe my invention in compound design for use in automobiles. Two complete motors are put together, each to operate a rear Wheel oi the "vehicle. 'l he objects oi? my improvements are iirst,

to provide an annular steam rotary motor having); steam-tight, non-back-resistant o'r eorn iressienless rotors; second, to provide an annular stearn rotary motor having reliable valves and a steam cut-oil device or tinier that will save steam. and accellel'ate the speed; and third, to provide a light, compact and powerful annular steani rotary motor tor sell-moving vehicles, motor-boats, airplanes etc, and also for manufacturing and commercial Worlr.

l attain the above objects-by the mechanisms illustrated in the accompanying drawings and specification, inivhichl ig'ure 1 is a front elevation oi the motor with part oi the casing; removed.

Fig, 2 is a horizontal section of the entire lower half of the motor.

Fig; 3 is a side elevation with casing removed.

lilo. 4 is a vertical section on the-line (i Fig. 5 a side elevation having portions broken away.

Fig. 6 is a rear elevation of the steam cutoff device or timer Fig. 7 is a vertical section of thr :ean'i cut oil device or timer.

8 is an enlarged sectional view of a combination rocker-oseillatory valve.

Fig. 9 is an enlarged sectional view of a valve and steam "l".

llig. 10 a sectional view of a rotor and the combination valve lift and steam obstructions.

Fig. 11 is a vertical section of the rotors on the line b b oi l0.

litted.

Fig. is a niechanisnn l ig'. ll mechanism.

ilirnilar reit'enince numerals indicate cor responding parts throughout the several views of the drawing The cylindrical flanged housing 1 having; the rotor division wall 2, the rotor housing plates 3 and l securely and perfectly bolted to housing 1, and the supporting casing 5 carrying a removable casing 6, is securely fastened to the axle housing 7, making with the plates 3 ands, the frame of the motor. T he housing 1 and the housing plates 3 and l as shown, are drilled tor bolting; and machinedpertectly for a steam-tight fitting.

lhe hollow or tubular shafts 10, having solid ringrs 11 to which are securely and side view oil the reversing snugly bolted the rotors E9, the eccentrics 13, and the steam cut-oll device or timer shown inl igs. 6 and '2', have a simple slot 152) in one end and into which a (log 1% is 'lhese dogrs 14 are securely fastened to the driving axles or shafts oi? an automobile or vehicle and thus connect the motcr directly to the rear Wheels of the vehicle. The plates 3 and 41 carry the roller bearings dthe pumps ll, and the valve bearings or the motor.

The steam enters the motor through the rain. supply pipe 16, into the distributing chamber '17 which is tastenedto the motor housing 1 by flange 18, and in which the steam receivesthe proper supply oi lubri eating oil held in reservoir 20, and delivered into said chamber 17 through pumps 19 Fig. The steam then branched oil into the specially desifri'ied valve Ts 21, l igr. 9, throu;rh the tubes 22. From these valve lls 911i the steam passes into perfectly machined lead tubes 23 which are suitably f stened to said l s 21 at the one end and are closed at the other end, and contain slots as shown in l ig. ll, to allow or lead the steam into the valve slots. The slots in said lead tubes together with corres 'iondin slots in the c'utol'li or oscillatory valves- Ql', the slots in the stationary valve hearings E25, and the steam outlets v26 in the roclrer valves '27, are so placed to correctly top view of the reversing till till

control and lead the steam -into the steam on. the rotor-s29 Figs. 10, 9, 8 and 5'. These combination valve lift and obstruc tions 30 have elongated elevated surfaces .and sloping ends with openings 63 of suitable proportion and shape therein which lead to steam obstruction chambers 64- located beneath the sloping ends and in which are upon which they are suitably fastened. As

the rotors 29 revolve, the steam contained in the steam channels 28 behind the rocker valves 27, is released and pushed out through the exhaust slots'3l in the rocker valves 27 into exhaust chamber 32, and thence through the exhaust ports 33 into the entire motor casing, thereby lubricating all the working parts of the motor by the oil contained in the steam. From the motor casing the steam is led through the exhaust pipe 34, into a condenser.

The combination rocker and oscillatory valves are both automatic and mechanical acting and consist of a lead tube 23 caro fully fitted into an oscillatory valve 2% which is snugly fitted into a stationary valve bearing 25 upon Which a rocker valve 27 is fitted and moves. All have, as shown in Figs. 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9, corresponding slots for controlling the passage of steam.

- The automatic Working of the combination rocker and oscillatory valves. is through the'combination valve lift and steam ohstriictions 30 on the rotors 29, which causes to rock when revolving, the rocker valves 27 Which'are heldina forward or reverse position by a reversing device controlling the springs 35 attached to the rocker valves 27.. he rocking causes the steam outlets 26 in the rockers 27, to move away from the slot openings in the stationary valve bear- .ings 25, thereby causing the valve to open and close automatically. The rocker valve 27 has a concave surface or cavity at each end, and outlets 2,6 are positioned, so that the resultant steam pressure in chamber 28 against" the concave surface automatically balances the rocker 27,'-thereby allowing the free movement and giving the correct po sition to the valve under-any .load, without. pressure friction on therotors. Y The mechanical Workingof the combination rocker and oscillatory valves is through the steam cut-ofi' device 'or timer Figs. 6 and7, operating the oscillatory valve contained in this combination valve. This steam cut-ofl device or timer as shown, consits of a large double camlike shaped disk 37 having a set of gears and a collar onto wh ch is carefully fitted a similar but n1cvable or advancing camlike shaped disk 38 to which is attached a crescent shaped ratchet 61; a collar plate 3.9for holding said disk 38 in position, is suitably bolted to the collar of dish-3 vin turn, is fastened to the hollow sh motor by .a key 36; a cylindrical atch placrl in side the hollow sh n pus ion or moved by con lv attached '10 to a controlling ii either a hand or foot lt timer levers 1?, vvh

'by sprin 's and n outlines o 37 and a are titl t; wit hear ings, are suitably moun d and are con ncctcd to the cuteoli or os actor valves by the connecting levers The opera... on or Working of this cut oii" device or t mer as illur. rated and de- 0 scribed, is as hilloivs: 'lhc controlling rod to which is attached a1 ll, moves the cylindrical ratchet il i and to any desircd position, thereby :xziliiiilfjj it motion the set of gea s attached to dish 7 with as which it in mesh. This set of ,{c:u.-; on disk 37, which also is in nnsh with a. was cent shaped ratchet (ll utter-lied to the mo\' able dish 38, causes when set in moth 1 said movable. dish 88 to move or advance. 90 When this disk 35? is moved ii'brvvaril or advanced, it prematurely liits the dial levers causing the cut-oil or osciliator' valve to 1110? so that its si .5 are not in alineincni' with the sl '1. i... tiouarv 2m valve be: inp; 25, thus closing the slots and cutting oil the s? supply at any ill-Sitfi-(l point in a vvo= V trolce ct e l'ui'f *1 .39. it obvious that ivlw the advanciw I'sl rue-d to its ice the valves are agrai' entire working The conibin on rocker and oscillatmy valves i and suitably bolted E and are 305 m a dc pa clci n g boxes lAUE, "inns and i 0 'irod 42 which lm toning: of the 1+ moved or rd movement of the required to reverse the meter,opcrateaci 11a. lover l-Slivbi-chliasits nearin the cut-oil valve tubes ill: at the valve l a1 i to which i. 1 ed :1 gear ratchet This f fill ratchr all causes gear to move up r down, thereby r: sing or lowering the valve spi' lit; which are faste vrying said 2: c1. movement of thevzzlvc spring hits 52 up or down on either valve spring of rocl-Ier valves '27, causes either the upper or lower out A 26 rot-her 1.1a

trier a torwtors E29.

in :i chimed the motor it fitting by like the steam pressure causing the flanges 54, which form the channels 28 on the rotors 29, to sufficiently expand without pinching. l lach rotor 29 is fitted with two combination valve lift and steam obstructions 30 which are securely fastened in the channels 22% in positions diametrically opposite each other, and. which. are designed as shown, with ends sloping in such a manner so as to easily and correctly operate the rocker valves 27 in the steam channels 28 without strain or unnecessar wear on the rotors 29, and havin g openings 63 of suitable propor tion andshape in said sloping surfaces of these ends so as to allow the steam pressure to reach the camlilre contrivances or pack.- ing members located in the steam obstruction chambers and which make the valve lifts or obstructions 30, steam. tight in the rotor housings. 'lhese camlike contrivances as shown in big. 10, consist ofncam shaped bearings which are securely and perfectly fitted in place of bolts 56 and held. in

suitable seats by springs 57, and make, when under pressure, the rotors 29 steam tlght in the rotor houslngs by belng carefully seated. The seating is to be so, that the.

action of the steam pressure will not cause the cam shaped bearings to bear too heavily upon the inner surfaces of the housings thereby avoiding unnecessary friction and pinching.

The motor, which is'designed in multiple form, has two rotors 29 fastened, as shown in Fig. 2, onto a ring, 11 which is carried on a hollow shaft 10. They are positioned in such a manner so that each rotor 29, having combination valve lift and steam obstruc tions 30 as described above, will be diametrically perpendicular to each other, thereby producing a smooth and continuous rotation in either direction.

T he rear housing plate 58 and the front housing plate 59 which carries the exhaust outlet, together with the removable plates 60 which give access to the valve packing boxes 4-5, are all fastened steam tight to the frame of themotor.

l am aware that prior to my invention annular steam rotary motors have been made, therefore I do not claim such a motor broadly, but

l claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

i. In combination with an annular steam rotary motor having a suitable casing, two annular steam rotary inotor rotors, each having a pair of steam-tight combination valve lift and steam obstructions arranged diametrically opposite each other and suitably fastened, together with a hollow shaft having a solidv ring: securely fastened. onto it and whereon are suitably fastened said rotors in such a manner so that the pairof combination ,valfve lift and steam obstructions on each rotor are positioned diamet l rically perpendicular to each. other, all sub.

stantially as shown, described and for the purpose set forth.

2. In combination with an annular steam rotary motor having; a suitable rotor hous ingr, an annular steam rotary motor rotor having flanges extending fromits annular surface in such a. manner so as to form a channel that will expand. sutliciently in the rotor housing of the motor through. the action of'the steam pressure tl'ierein, so as to give the rotor the proper steam-tight fitting in the said rotor housing, substantially as shown, described and for the purpose set fortln 3. in an annular steam rotary motor hav ing a suitable casing and suitably housing rotors provided with flanges that form steam channels, and having combination roclrer-oscillatory valves with wings extend inn; in opposite directions; a combination valve lift and steam obstruction which is suitably positioned and fastened in the said steam channels on the rotors of the motor, and which consists of an obstruction or abutment having an elongated elevated surface with sloping ends, having steam obstruction chambers provided with perpendicular walls in which are positioned pack mp; members, and having means to permit the steam pressure and expansion to act.

against the per iiendicular walls of the said steam obstruction chambers, all substantially as described, shown and for the pun pose set forth.

i. The combination in an annular steam rotary motor having a suitable casing, of a motor rotor provided with flanges that form steam channels, of a combination valve lift and steanrobstruction having an elongated elevated surface with sloping ends, having, steam obstruction chambers provided with perpendicular walls in which are positioned packing members, and having means to permit the steam pressure and'expansion to act against the perpendicular walls of the said steam obstruction chambers; and of combination rockenoscillatory valves having wings extending in opposite directions, all substantially as shown, described and for the purpose as set forth.

5. in an annular steam rotary motor having a suitable rotor housing and provided with combination rocker-oscillatory valves,-

a combination rotor having flanges extendinn from its annular surface In such a mantlil nor so as to form channels, that are capabio of expanding, together with two com hination valve lift and steam obstructions, each having sloping: ends and elongated elevated surfaces and being" suitably fastened into the said channels and positioned dia metrically opposite each other so as to cor rectly operate and to give the proper move ment to the combination rocker-oscillatory valves of the motor and which also are provided with canr shaped contrivances consisting of cam shaped bearings held in suitable seats by springs, thus in combination producing a steam tight fitting rotor in the rotor housing of the motor, all substantially in the steam channelsof the rotors of the motor,quick and'easy escapement when the rotors areoperated in either a forward or reverse motion, substantially as shown, de-

scribed and for the purpose set forth.

7. In an annular steam rotory motor having rotors provided with flanges which form steam channels, a reversible rocker valve consisting of a rocker having wings extending in opposite directions whose ends contain a concave surface or cavity into which terminate steam outlet passages that pass throughsaid wings of the valve in such a manner so that the resultant pressure in the steam channels of the rotors automatically balances the valve when it is in either a forward or reverse working position, sub

.stantially as shown, described and for the purpose set forth.

8. In combination with an annularsteam rotary motor, a rocker valve consisting of a rocker having steam outlet ports so arranged in connection with concave surfaces in its ends, that the resultant pressure in the steam channels automatically balances the valve when in either a forward or reverse working position; having longitudinal slots in its wings to allow the exhaust steam quick and easy escapement, and having spring attachments for holding the rocker in either a forward or reverse working po-' sition, all substantially as shown, described and for the purpose set forth.

9. In an annular steam rotary motor, a valve bearin consisting of a tube having a flange where y it is bolted onto the motor, having slots properly located for the pas sage of steam when required, having a shoulder or ridge to hold an oscillatory valve in place, having packing boxes, andbeing so machined that oscillatory valves can be snugly fitted in, and that rocker valves can be snugly fitted on'it; thus acting both as a bearing and as a valve in combination with the oscillatory and rocker valves, substantially as described, shownand for the purpose set forth.

10. In an annular steam rotary motor oscillatory'valve having slots, a steam lead tube which is placed inside the oscillatory valves and which consists of a tube care fully machined and suitably fastened at one end to a steam connection and closed at the other end so as to hold the steam pressure and thereby allowing the free movement of the valves without pressure friction, and having slots so located as to properly lead the steam to the valve slots, substantially as shown, desribed and for the purpose set forth.

11. In an annular steam rotary motor provided with rocker valves which are journaled onto stationary valve bearings having slots, a combination oscillatory valve consisting of a tubular valve snugly fitted into the valve bearing of the motor and having slots for the passage of steam, together with a steam lead tube which is snugly fitted into said tubular valve and designed to carry or hold the steam pressure so as to allow the oscillatory valve free and easy movement by being closed at the one end and held stationary by being fastenedat the other end and which has slots so located as to lead the steam into the slots of the oscillatory valve, all substantially as shown, described and for the purpose set forth.

12. In an annular steam rotary motor, a combination reversible rocker-oscillatory valve consisting of a rocker having wings extending in opposite directions in whose ends are concave surfaces or cavities, through which pass steam outlet passages which terminate-in said concave surfaces or cavities, through which pass longitudinal exhaust slots, and upon which are fastened spring attachments for holding the rocker in either a forward or reverse position; together with a valve bearing upon which the said rocker is journaled and which has a flange, a shoulder or ridge, and containing slots corresponding with the steam outlet passages in the said rocker; together with an oscillatory tubular valve which is snugly fitted into said valve bearing and-having slots corresponding with the slots in the said valve bearing; and a stationary valve lead tube having slots so located as to lead the steam into the oscillatory val-ve slots by being snugly fitted .in the said oscillatory valve and so designed as to hold the steam pressure by being closed at the one end, all substantially as shown. described and for the purpose set forth. I

13. In an annular steam rotary motor having a hollow shaft with rotors suitably fastened thereon and having combination rocker-oscillatory valves, a steam cut-off device or timer consisting of a cylindrical ratchet which is operated by a controlling.

gear and placed inside the hollow shaft (if the motor: together with said hollow shaft upon which is keyed a large camlike shaped disk having a set of gears suitably mounted lgo filnti tttatttd gether with valve levers which are in connection with the combination rocker-oscillatory valves of the motor and provided with suitable bearings, which bear on the camlilre surfaces of the disks, thereby operating the valves to out ed the steam at regular interlit - having vals or at any desired time during the working stroke of the rotors bi advancing the movable diskthrough the movement of the cylindrical ratohet in the hollow shaft of the motor all substantially as shown, described and for the purpose set forth.

1.4. In an annular steam rotary motor combination rocker oscillatory valves with wings extending in opposite directions, a reversing device consisting, of a controlling rod suitably placed and having disks mounted thereon, together with suitably mounted circular levers upon which said disks act and which are in connection with valve spring lifts by means of gears and a shaft upon which are positioned said valve spring lifts; together with valve springs suitably positioned on the wings of the combination rocker-oscillatory valves upon which act the valve spring lifts for either a forward or reverse movement of the motor by causing either wing of the combination rocker-oscillatory valve to be in working position bya valve spring lift acting uponthe spring attached to either wing all substantially as shown, described-and for the purpose set forth.

lln testimony whereof it have attired my slgnature in presence of two witnesses.

LEONARD AlDfiih/fti l Witnesses:

J. Errors HEWITT, Anoosros German as I 

